3 Necessary High Costs To Prepare For When Planning a Vacation to Hawaii
Written by
Dawn Allcot
Edited by
Nicholas Morine
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Not only is Hawaii an expensive place to live, it’s also a pricey place to visit. The state already charges a 10.25% hotel tax, dubbed the Transient Accommodation Tax (TAT), for anyone staying in a resort, hotel, or short-term vacation rental. The state has also proposed a $25 Climate Impact Fee for visitors, but that legislation hasn’t passed yet, according to GOBankingRates’ most recent report.
The chain of Pacific islands is home to white-sand beaches, picturesque hiking trails, crystal clear waters for snorkeling, and museums — and other tourist attractions — to appeal to all types of travelers.
But associated travel costs might be higher than a trip to any of the contiguous states. Here are some costs you should expect if you’re taking a family of four to Hawaii, based on figures from The Hawaii Vacation Guide.
Airfare
Expect to spend roughly $2,011 on airfare for your trip to Hawaii — or roughly $500 per roundtrip ticket, per person. That’s higher than a roundtrip flight to virtually anywhere else in the U.S. The average cost of a domestic, roundtrip flight is just $367.79, according to statistics from the Bureau of Transportation, as reported by USA Today.
Most flights to Hawaii leave from Los Angeles, so if you don’t live within driving distance of LAX, you’ll need to tack on the costs of airfare from your home to California.
Hotel
The airfare isn’t the priciest part of your trip if you’re staying in Hawaii for 10 days, however. The average cost of a hotel room for four people runs $4,136, according to The Hawaii Vacation Guide. This price applies to a value hotel in the city of Waikiki on the island of Oahu. That price breaks down to roughly $400 per night.
To contrast, we found oceanfront hotels in Myrtle Beach for summer 2024 for half that price on Expedia, although you could spend $400+ for a beachfront condo with a full kitchen and multiple bedrooms.
Food
While you can find plenty of fun and free activities to do across Hawaii, there is at least one more expense you can’t avoid — food! The Hawaii Vacation Guide estimated that to feed a family of two adults and two children, you’ll want to budget at least $2,100 for 10 days, or roughly $200 per day.
The average restaurant dinner in Hawaii can cost $50 to $100 per person, with entrees priced at $34 and up. You can save money by eating at food trucks or less pricey places, but you should expect to spend at least $75 per adult, per day, on food.
It’s possible to enjoy a Hawaii vacation on a budget if you plan carefully, travel during the off-season, and seek out free activities at the state’s beautiful beaches and parks, however.
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